Hello Redmond families,

We hope you are weathering all of changes going on in all our lives right now. Students back to in-person school has not only been exciting but also has thrown us all many curve balls and it is heartening to see the courage and resilience with which our students face every new challenge.

As we work through these changes together, let’s keep in mind a few things:

• Please be supportive to your students and each other as we all adjust and learn new rules at school. Remember most of our 9th AND 10th graders are in high school for the first time! 
• Please be patient with our teachers and staff as they all learn how to best support and teach our students in these changing times. Our district is very understaffed, and they are working very hard.
• Please be understanding of your fellow parents as they learn all the rules and changes at RHS. Many of these parents are brand new to RHS.
• Please be tolerant of student and parent drivers during pick-up and drop-off times. Expect at least a 15-minute wait when picking up or dropping off your student! Take a deep breath, be safe and show our students your best patient behavior.

To help us all learn more about how to support our students and each other, your PTSA is partnering with our neighboring schools to bring you a wonderful parent education speaker opportunity with renowned parent coach, Christy Keating. Watch this newsletter for further information for this November event: “Weathering Change Well: Helping Parents and Students School in a Post-Covid World.” To learn more about Christy, visit her website at https://www.theheartfulparent.com/

Your PTSA is here to support you and your students. If there is anything you need or have questions about, please reach out to us – we are dedicated to help bridge the connections between RHS and our families.

As we head into Fall, the changes keep coming and we ask that everyone give each other grace, show patience, and take a deep breath and enjoy the beautiful Autumn colors of the Pacific Northwest. We are all in this together and many of us are feeling the overwhelming stress of just getting through each day. Let’s stick together and support each other Mustangs – we got this!

GO STANGS!

-Your PTSA Board

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - ADULT REFLECTIONS JUDGE

Are you an artist or have a good eye for great art? RHS Reflections team is looking for judges to help us evaluate this year’s Reflections submissions. Judging will be done completely virtually and takes only a couple of hours. 

To learn more about the categories for judging, please visit our Reflections page on our website - https://redmondhsptsa.org/Page/Pta/Reflections.

If you are interested in getting involved, please email reflections@redmondhsptsa.org.

STUDENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

RHS Students looking for Volunteer Hours? Student art judges! If you are a current RHS student and are looking for some volunteer hours and have a great eye for good art, please consider volunteering as a Reflections judge for our area elementary schools this year. Judging will be done completely virtually and takes only a couple of hours. 

If you are interested, please reach out to reflections@redmondptsa.org.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - TRANSLATORS!

Are you multi-lingual and willing to share your skills as a translator for RHS PTSA? Be a part of our focus diversity, equity, and inclusion and help us to bring our community together. We are looking for volunteers to help us translate documents into multiple languages as well as volunteers to be a part of our Phone Bank; calling families to let them know about opportunities at RHS. Volunteers can be adults or RHS students! 

If you are interested, please reach out to our VP of Family and Community Engagement, Meredith Cain at vp_face@redmondhsptsa.org.

PARTNER EVENT: AN OVERVIEW OF THE COLLEGE PROCESS

Lake Washington Schools Foundation is offering a free webinar for high school students and parents of middle school and high school students on Tuesday, October 19th from 7 to 8 pm.

VisIt https://lwsf.salsalabs.org/20211019overviewofthecollegeprocess/index.html to register.

UPCOMING FAMILY EVENT

“Weathering Change Well: Helping Parents and Students School in a Post-Covid World”

Please join us for a virtual speaker event featuring well-known parent coach, Christy Keating. Christy is the owner of The Heartful Parent Collective and will be talking with parents about anxiety and how to help our kids cope with all the changes in post-covid school. As we navigate the many changes, this is an excellent opportunity to learn tools to help your student weather these unprecedented times. This event will also allow for a parent Question and Answer session.

Please watch this newsletter, our website, and our Facebook page for specific date and time information coming soon! Questions regarding this event, please email vp_face@redmondhsptsa.org.

To learn more about Christy - https://www.theheartfulparent.com/

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - SPRING ART SHOW COMMITTEE

Due to current restrictions, we have decided to forgo our annual Holiday Bazaar and instead focus on an exciting new Spring Arts and Crafts event! We are currently in the planning process and would love to form a dynamic team dedicated to creating an amazing annual event. Please consider joining our committee and sharing your event planning talents! Contact vp_face@redmondhsptsa.org for questions or if you are interested in helping.

PASS THE HAT FUNDRAISER AND CORPORATE MATCHING

A big THANK YOU to our RHS families who have generously given to our Pass the Hat Fundraiser. We depend on your donations to provide RHS with teacher and school grants to assist with need classroom and school needs. Our fundraising goal is $13,500.00 and have collected $9,245.00.  

Corporate matching gives a huge boost to our fundraising program. Families who have access to matching funds through their company, please remember to complete any forms (paper or online) that will allow your donation to be matched.  

To participate in Pass the Hat fundraiser click here.

THERE IS NO WRONG WAY TO PT(S)A: JOIN NOW!

We invite you to join the Redmond High School PTSA because we can do more together than individually. Becoming a member does not require any time commitment or volunteering. By simply joining, you show you support the RHS community. There is strength in numbers and a strong PTSA starts with a large membership base. If you would like a more active role in our activities, they are also many opportunities to do so.

The cost is $20 for a single adult membership, $12 with for each additional household member. Students are also encouraged to join so they can have a say in how the PTSA spends its efforts and resources. Community members, including former PTSA members whose students have moved on, are also welcome to join. All members have the right to vote on PTSA matters.  

You can join at www.redmondhsptsa.org. Paper forms are also available upon request.

Did You Know? Membership Subsidies are Available

If you would like to join, but cannot afford the cost of membership, please reach out to me at membership@redmondhsptsa.org (all information is kept strictly confidential). In the spirit of barriers and being inclusive, the PTSAS has set aside funds to cover the cost of membership for those who would like to join but are financially unable to do so.  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

REFLECTIONS! - NATIONAL ART COMPETITION

Mustangs artists – show us your skills! 

There are only THREE WEEKS LEFT before the entry deadline!

This year's Reflections theme is "I will change the world by..." Artists can submit artwork in any of the following categories: visual arts, music composition, dance, literature, film production, and photography with a focus on this year’s theme.

Please check out our website for the official rules and for the official Entry Form.

https://redmondhsptsa.org/Page/Pta/Reflections

Entries are due November 2, 2021 and all entries will be submitted VIRTUALLY. The RHS submission portal will be available on our website soon.

Please use this OneDrive link to submit your Reflections Entry Form and your artwork! https://tinyurl.com/428jvys4 Accepted file formats include: pdf, jpg, mp3, and mp4.

Please contact reflections@redmondhsptsa.org with any questions on this process.

REFLECTIONS THEME CONTEST

Entries due November 1, 2021

Each year, National PTA seeks a theme for the Reflections program year to be held two years from now. This year students are asked to submit a theme for the 2023-2024 program year. The due date for submitting a theme search entry is November 1, 2021. The student who submits the winning entry will receive $100 and his or her theme will be presented at the annual National PTA Convention in June 2022. 

Please complete the form https://redmondhsptsa.org/Doc/Public/ReflectionsThemeFormRHS21.pdf

and submit your entry! Questions, please email reflections@redmondhsptsa.org.

TREAT BOXES FOR STAFF - DONATIONS NEEDED

The RHS PTSA Hospitality Committee would love to recognize our staff with Fall/Halloween treat boxes. We want them to know how much we appreciate all of their hard work. We are looking for donations of candy from our wonderful RHS community. If you can help out, please click on the link and sign up to bring an item or two. Thanks for your support.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094BACA82BA02-trick 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

RHS PTSA is always looking to build new relationships with our community. RHS PTSA is a group of lighthearted, hardworking individuals who enjoy having new additions to our organization. Most work is done from home. Time commitments vary. Many chair positions are open and waiting to be filled by fresh new energy. Please consider taking on a role you find interesting. For full Chair descriptions please contact our VP of Volunteers, Christie Denholm, volunteers@redmondhsptsa.org.

STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Check back soon as for more exciting news from RHS Athletics and the Boosters that support them.